Method and means for boring earth

ABSTRACT

An earth boring machine comprising a truck mounted frame means having a pivotal derrick mounted thereon at the rearward end thereof. A turntable means is vertically slidably mounted on the derrick and is adapted to drive a drive or Kelly bar which slidably extends downwardly therethrough. The turntable means includes a pair of hydraulic motors mounted thereon adapted to cause the rotation of the Kelly bar so that the tool means on the lower end thereof can bore into the earth. The turntable means is vertically mounted on the derrick so that the turntable means can be moved upwardly thereon to clear the area beneath the derrick so that tools of various sizes can be accommodated. The Kelly bar and tool thereon can be pivotally moved outwardly with respect to the derrick to empty the tool without the necessity of pulling the tool upwardly through the turntable means as in conventional machines. The method of boring earth utilizing the above structure is also disclosed.

United States Patent Collins [15] 3,685,596 51 Aug. 22, 1972 [54] METHOD AND MEANS FOR BORING EARTH 72 Inventor: Robert A. Collins, 934 3rd Ave.

S.W., Le Mars, Iowa 51031 [22] Filed: Oct. 29, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 85,098

[52] US. Cl ..l75/57, 175/161 [51] Int. Cl. ..E21b 27/00 [58] Field of Search ..l75/57, 88, 161

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,420,320 1/1969 Washita ..l75/l61 3,495,667 2/ 1970 Cales 175/161 3,307,643 3/1967 Ferri 175/161 3,026,950 3/1962 Johnson ..175/l61 Primary Examiner-James A. Leppink Att0rneyZarley, McKee & Thomte 7 frame means having a pivotal derrick mounted thereon at the rearward end thereof. A turntable means is vertically slidably mounted on the derrick and is adapted to drive a drive or Kelly bar which slidably extends downwardly therethrough. The turntable means includes a pair of hydraulic motors mounted thereon adapted to cause the rotationof the Kelly bar so that the tool means on the lower end thereof can bore into the earth. The turntable means is vertically mounted on the derrick so that the tumtable means can be moved upwardly thereon to clear the area beneath the derrick so that tools of various sizes can be accommodated. The Kelly bar and tool thereon can be pivotally moved outwardly with respect to the derrick to empty the tool without the necessity of pulling the tool upwardly through the turntable means as in conventional machines. The method of boring earth utilizing the above structure is also disclosed.

6 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 22, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Avvewrae ,Poaz'er 4. C044 I445 5y I 1 '7 METHOD AND MEANS FOR BORING EARTH Conventional earth boring machines usually include a truck mounted frame means having a derrick pivotally mounted thereon. A turntable means is mounted on the rearward end of the frame means beneath the lower end of the derrick and is adapted to rotate a drive or kelly bar extending therethrough. The central opening in the turntable means limits the size of the tool on the lower end of the kelly bar which may be raised upwardly therethrough. Such a feature is extremely undesirable in those machines of the bucket boring type which require that the bucket be raised upwardly through the turntable means and then moved outwardly from the derrick to empty the same. One solution to the problem is to provide such a large turntable on the frame means that any possible tool size can pass therethrough. This solution is not practical since a turntable having such'a size would be difficult if not impossible to support on the frame means and due to a problem of driving and operating such a large turntable.

Therefore, it is a principal object of this invention to provide an improved earth boring machine.

A further object of this invention is to provide an earth boring machine having a turntable means which is vertically movably mounted thereon.

A further object of this invention is to provide a A further object of this invention is to provide a vertically movable turntable means which is mounted in a swivel manner to permit the lower end of the Kelly bar I to be moved rearwardly and laterally from the machine to empty the bucket.

A further object of this invention is to provide an earth boring machine which is economical to manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the machine of this invention.

FIG. 2 is arear view of the machine of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view seen on lines 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view seen on lines 5-5 of FIG.

The machine of this invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 and includes a frame means 12 conventionally mounted on a truck 14. A derrick 16 is pivotally mounted on the frame means and is movable from a horizontal transport position to the substantially vertical position seen in FIG. 1. The pivotal movement of the derrick is accomplished by a hydraulic cylinder means 18. As seen in the drawings, derrick 16 includes a pair of spaced apart I-beams 20 and 22, the lower ends of which are spaced above the ground when the derrick is in an upright position.

The numeral 24 generally refers to a turntable means which is vertically movably mounted on the derrick 16 between the upper and lower ends thereof. Turntable means 24 generally comprises a support slide 26, swivel means 28and turntable support 30. Support slide 26 includes a pair of spaced apart frame members 32 and 34 having a plate 36 secured thereto and extending between the upper ends thereof. Plate 36 is provided with an opening 38 formed therein for a purpose to be explained hereinafter. Reinforcing plate 40 is secured to the lower end of plate 36 and extends forwardly therefrom'between the frame members 32 and 34 to which it is also secured by welding. Angle 42 is welded to and extends between the upper ends of frame members 32 and 34 and has an opening 44 formed therein which registers'wit'h opening 38. Angle 46 is welded to and extends between frame members 32 and 34 at the lower ends thereof.

The forward sides of frame members 32 and 34 are provided with inwardly extending bars 48 and 50 respectively which are spaced therefrom to provide a channel which receives a portion of the flange of the I- bearns 20 or 22 to effect the'slidable connection of the support slide on the derrick.

Swivel means 28 generally comprises a plate 52 having an opening 54 extending therethrough. A pair of spaced apart arms 56, 58 and 60, 62 are welded to the upper corners .of plate 52 and are provided with openings formed therein at their rearward ends adapted to receive pins 64 and 66 respectively. Brace 68 is welded to the top edge of plate 52 and arms 56, 58, and 62 to provide additional support to the assembly. Swivel means 28 is pivotally connected about a substantially horizontal axis to the support slide 26 by swivel pin or bolt 70 which extends through openings 54, 38 and 44.

Turntable support 30 includes a housing 72 having an open bottom and upstanding ears 74 and 76 extending upwardly from the top 78 thereof which have pin receiving openings formed therein. The numeral 80 refers to a turntable or drive cylinder which is rotatably mounted in housing 72 and which has a square opening 82 formed in wall 84. Cylinder 80 has a gear rack 86 FIG. 3 is a sectional view seen on lines 3-3 of FIG.

extending therearound below top 78 which is in mesh with pinion gears 88 and 90 mounted on drive shafts 92 and 94 extending from hydraulic motors 96 and 98 oppositely mounted on housing 72. The hydraulic motors are suitably operated by a hydraulic power system on the machine so that actuation thereof causes the pinion gears 88 and 90 to rotate gear rack 86 with respect thereto thereby rotating cylinder 80. Ears 74 and 76 are received between the arms 56, 58 and 60, 62 respectively and are pivotally connected thereto by the pins 64 and 66.

The numeral 100 refers to a drive or Kelly bar which is comprised of a variety of telescoping tubes having conventional means thereon to prevent the complete separation thereof. The Kelly bar 100 extends through the opening 82 in drive cylinder 80 when the machine is in an operative position. Rotation of the drive cylinder or turntable causes the Kelly bar to be rotated. A tool such as a bucket 102 or the like is conventionally attached to the lower end of the innermost tube of the Kelly bar 100. Swivel 104 is secured to the' upper end of the intermost tube of the Kelly bar 100 and has a cable 105 secured thereto for raising and lowering the Kelly bar 100.

A conventional hydraulically operated bucket pull out arm assembly 106 is secured to the frame means 12 adjacent one side of the derrick and is adapted to pull the bucket and the lower end of the Kelly bar out- The fact that the machine of this invention eliminates the necessity of raising the tool through a turntable means permits extremely large tools to be mounted on pool holes and drainage holes. Additionally, they machine of this invention makes it possible and convenient to cut bell holes for footings of buildings.

The machine of this invention permits extremely large diameter holes to be drilled since the requirement wardly from the machine to facilitate the emptying of the earth from the bucket and to facilitate the attachment of different toolsto the Kelly bar.

' In operation, the truck is positioned over the drilling location. The derrick 16 is raised to the vertical position and the turntable means 30 is lowered to the lower part of the derrick 16. The Kelly bar 100 is extended downwardly through the opening 82 in the turntable 80 with the desired tool such as a bucket 102 then being secured to the Kelly bar. The turntable means is then raised to the upper portion of the derrick by means of the cable 108 which is operatively connected to the swivel pin 70. The cables 108 and 105 are connected to conventional brake wheel and band assemblies. When the tumtable means 24 has been raised to the upper portion of the derrick 16,v cable 105 is then lowered so that-the bucket 102 engages the earth. The hydraulic power system is then actuated to cause the actuation of hydraulic motors 96 and 98 to cause the rotation of the Kelly bar 100 as previously described; The hydraulic motorsiare operated until the bucket 102 is full. When the bucket is full, the cable 105 is raised to pull the Kelly bar 100 and the bucket 102 from the hole. When the bucket 102 has been removed from the hole, the bucket pull out arm assembly 106 is then connected to the Kelly bar 100 and operated to. cause the bucket 102 to be moved outwardly with respect to the machine to facilitatethe emptying of the debris or dirt from the bucket. Kelly bar 100 pivots about the pins 64 and 66 if the bucket 102 is moved directly rearwardly from the machine. The swivel pin 70 also permits the Kelly bar l00to pivot with respect to the support slide 26 to permit the lower end of the Kelly bar 100 and bucket 102 "to be moved rearwardly and laterally with respect to the machine. Such lateral movement is not possible in conventional machines. The lateralmovement permits the earth to be dumped out of the work area behind the machine.

When the bucket is empty, the pull out arm assembly 106 is operated to reposition the bucket 102 over the hole at which time the cable 105 is lowered until the bucket 102 reaches the lower end of the hole. It can be seen that the fact that the turntable means 24. is positioned at the upper end of the derrick eliminates the necessity of raising the bucket through a turntable means as is required in conventional earth boring machines each time the bucket is emptied. 'Ihe tumtable means may be left at the upper end of the derrick until all of the inner tubes of the Kelly bar 100 have to achieve the additional drilling depth.

of raising the drilling tool through a turntable has been eliminated. The machine of this invention permits the drilling of the large diameter holes in an efficient and economical manner. While the tool 102 has been described as being a bucket or the like, it should be Thus it can be seen that the-machine accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives. It can also be seen that an improved method has holes in the earth.

lclaim: I

1. An earth boring machine comprising,

a frame means,

a substantially vertically disposed support means at oneend of said frame means having upper and lower ends, said lower end being spaced above the earth,

a a turntable means vertically movably mounted on said support means,

a drive bar means extending downwardly through said turntable means and adapted to be rotatably driven thereby, i

been described for boring saiddrivebarmeansadaptedtohaveatoolmeans connected to its lower end,

said turntable means being vertically movable on 7 said support means so that said turntable means can be moved upwardly on said support means so that the area beneath said support means is cleared so that tools of various sizes modated, said turntable means comprising a slide means slidably mounted on said verticallydisposed sup port means, a first swivel, element pivotally con nected to said slide means about a substantially t horizontal axis, said first swivel element having first and second spaced apart pairs of arm members extending substantially horizontally outwardly therefrom, a turntable support having spaced apart first and second, plates pivotally secured to said first and second of arm members respectively about a substantially horizontal axis, a turntable rotatably mounted on said turntable support adapted to drive the drive bar means extending therethrough, and power means connected to said turntable for rotating said turntable, pull out arm assembly to said drive bar means for pivotally moving'said drive bar means and said turntable with respect to said support means so that the lower end of said drive bar means can be moved outwardly away from said frame means.

can be aooom- 2. The machine of claim 1 wherein said tool means has a diameter greater than said turntable, said pull out arm assembly adapted to move the lower end of said drive bar means and said tool-means outwardly from said frame means when said turntable means is positioned above the lower end of said support means.

3. An earth boring machine comprising,

a frame means,

a substantially vertically disposed support means at one end of said frame means having upper and lower ends, said lower end being spaced above the earth,

a turntable means vertically movably mounted on said support means,

a drive bar means extending downwardly through said turntable means and adapted to be rotatably driven thereby,

said drive bar means adapted to have a tool means connected to its lower end,

said turntable means being vertically movable on said support means so that said turntable means can be moved upwardly on said support means so that the area beneath said support means is cleared so that tools of various sizes 'can be accommodated,

said turntable means comprising a slide means and second horizontal axes so that the lower end of said drive bar means can be moved rearwardly and laterally away from said frame means.

4. The machine of claim 3 wherein said power means comprises first and second hydraulic motors oppositely mounted on said turntable support.

5. The machine of claim 3 wherein said frame means is a wheeled vehicle, said vertically disposed support means being a derrick pivotally mounted on said vehicle.

6. The method of boring earth with a frame means having a vertically disposed support means thereon, a turntable means vertically mounted on said support means adapted to drive a drive bar means extending therethrough, said turntable means being pivoted to said support means about first and second transversely disposed horizontal axes, comprising the following steps, vertically moving said turntable means on said support means to a predetermined position. with respect thereto,

securing a tool means to the lower end of the drive barmeans,

operating said turntable means to cause said drive bar means to rotate said tool means so that said tool means will bore into the earth, lowering the lower end of said drive bar means until said tool means reaches a predetermined depth in rai s irig sa iiidrive bar means so that said tool means is removed from the earth,

pivotally moving the lower end of said drive bar means rearwardly and laterally with respect to said support means, said turntable means being positioned above said tool means during the boring operation and during said rearward and lateral movement, said first and second axes permitting said turntable means to be maintained in substantially the same horizontal and vertical planes with respect to said support means during the said rearward and lateral movement. 

1. An earth boring machine comprising, a frame means, a substantially vertically disposed support means at one end of said frame means having upper and lower ends, said lower end being spaced above the earth, a turntable means vertically movably mounted on said support means, a drive bar means extending downwardly through said turntable means and adapted to be rotatably driven thereby, said drive bar means adapted to have a tool means connected to its lower end, said turntable means being vertically movable on said support means so that said turntable means can be moved upwardly on said support means so that the area beneath said support means is cleared so that tools of various sizes can be accommodated, said turntable means comprising a slide means slidably mounted on said vertically disposed support means, a first swivel element pivotally connected to said slide means about a substantially horizontal axis, said first swivel element having first and second spaced apart pairs of arm members extending substantially horizontally outwardly therefrom, a turntable support having spaced apart first and second plates pivotally secured to said first and second pairs of arm members respectively about a substantially horizontal axis, a turntable rotatably mounted on said turntable support adapted to drive the drive bar means extending therethrough, and power means connected to said turntable for rotating said turntable, a pull out arm assembly secured to said drive bar means for pivotally moving said drive bar means and said turntable with respect to said support means so that the lower end of said drive bar means can be moved outwardly away from said frame means.
 2. The machine of claim 1 wherein said tool means has a diameter greater than said turntable, said pull out arm assembly adapted to move the lower end of said drive bar means and said tool means outwardly from said frame means when said turntable means is positioned above the lower end of said support means.
 3. An earth boring machine comprising, a frame means, a substantially vertically disposed support means at one end of said frame means having upper and lower ends, said lower end being spaced above the earth, a turntable means vertically movably mounted on said support means, a drive bar means extending downwardly through said turntable means and adapted to be rotatably driven thereby, said drive bar means adapted to have a tool means connected to its lower end, said turntable means being vertically movable on said support means so that said turntable means can be moved upwardly on said support means so that the area beneath said support means is cleared so that tools of various sizes can be accommodated, said turntable means comprising a slide means slidably mounted on said vertically disposed support means, a first swivel means pivotally connected to said slide means about a first substantially horizontal axis, a turntable support pivotally secured to said first swivel means about a second substantially horizontal axis transverse to said first horizontal axis, a turntable rotatably mounted on said turntable support adapted to drive the drive bar means extending therethrough, power means connected to said turntable for rotating said turntable, and means for pivotally moving said drive bar means and said turntable about said first and second horizontal axes so that the lower end of said drive bar means can be moved rearwarDly and laterally away from said frame means.
 4. The machine of claim 3 wherein said power means comprises first and second hydraulic motors oppositely mounted on said turntable support.
 5. The machine of claim 3 wherein said frame means is a wheeled vehicle, said vertically disposed support means being a derrick pivotally mounted on said vehicle.
 6. The method of boring earth with a frame means having a vertically disposed support means thereon, a turntable means vertically mounted on said support means adapted to drive a drive bar means extending therethrough, said turntable means being pivoted to said support means about first and second transversely disposed horizontal axes, comprising the following steps, vertically moving said turntable means on said support means to a predetermined position with respect thereto, securing a tool means to the lower end of the drive bar means, operating said turntable means to cause said drive bar means to rotate said tool means so that said tool means will bore into the earth, lowering the lower end of said drive bar means until said tool means reaches a predetermined depth in the earth, raising said drive bar means so that said tool means is removed from the earth, pivotally moving the lower end of said drive bar means rearwardly and laterally with respect to said support means, said turntable means being positioned above said tool means during the boring operation and during said rearward and lateral movement, said first and second axes permitting said turntable means to be maintained in substantially the same horizontal and vertical planes with respect to said support means during the said rearward and lateral movement. 